Monday, 31st October, on the Feast of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the chapel of Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke near the Republican Clinical Hospital in Chisinau, and officiated the consecration service.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were Archpriest Vadim Cheibas, the Metropolitan Secretary, Archpriest Marian Boldescu, Dean of Telenesti district, Archpriest Mihail Smerea, Rector of the Dormition church in Chisinau, and other priests and deacons.
At the Small Entrance, the Metropolitan awarded to Archpriest Alexei Smerea, Rector of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke chapel, the highest church distinction – the Right to wear Cross with Jewels.
After the Lord’s Prayer, the priests and deacons followed His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir in a procession around the church, with Gospel Readings, and then the Metropolitan congratulated the parishioners and the clergy on their chapel’s Patron Feast, wishing them long live in peace and spiritual fulfillment, in the spirit of prayer and Christian love.
The Metropolitan announced the believers about the intention of the Orthodox Church of Moldova to provide spiritual assistance to the patients and their families, but also to perform intensive pastoral activity among doctors, medical assistants, and other staff of the hospitals. This activity will be performed by the Synodal Sector of Spiritual Activity in Medical Institutions – a recently created entity within the Metropolis of Chisinau and All Moldova.
Traditionally, before departure, the Metropolitan distributed to the Christians present at the service icons of St. Hierarch Gavriil (Banulescu-Bodoni) and of Blessed Agafia of Cuselauca, recently canonized by the Orthodox Church of Moldova.
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